Joshua hopes to take first steps with prosthetic

JOSHUA Duffy-Huff, who recently celebrated his first birthday, was born with his legs twisted behind his back. When he was just a month old surgeons had to amputate his legs below the knee.

But, thanks to the Oprah Winfrey Show and American Airlines, who before Christmas provided the family with a free trip to the US so Joshua could undergo treatment in Michigan, the little tot may soon take his first steps.

He is now back home in Castletownroche, Co Cork, with his parents and having been fitted with unique prosthetic legs has every chance of taking his first steps soon.

Joshua, who was fitted out with his first pair of shoes before leaving the US for home, was born with arthrogryposis, a rare congenital condition which causes abnormalities in the joints.

Michigan-based doctor Greg Greenway, who has pioneered procedures which can aid sufferers of the condition, took Joshua into his care and fitted the child with special sockets which have enabled prosthetic legs to be attached.

“At the moment he’s doing really well on his prosthesis.

“He has hand casts as well that he wears at night to open up his hands,” explained his mother Gillian.

“He’s getting used to his preliminary prosthesis right now and the hope is that he will walk one day,” she said.

The child’s parents were told soon after his birth that “he would never walk. But we thought nine months old was a bit early to write someone off. Even if he decides not to use the prosthesis when he’s older, at least he’ll have the choice,” Gillian said.